New Delhi: India’s booming quick commerce sector is facing renewed scrutiny as consumers raise concerns over missing product information, underweight deliveries and recurring transparency issues. As platforms continue to promise convenience through rapid deliveries, customers and consumer rights advocates are questioning whether essential product details and accurate quantities are being consistently provided.

The concerns come amid a broader consumer awareness campaign highlighting alleged gaps in transparency across several quick commerce platforms. Among the key issues raised are the absence of manufacturing and expiry dates for perishable products on app listings, discrepancies in delivered product weights, and inadequate responses to customer complaints.

Missing product information raises food safety concerns

One of the primary concerns revolves around the display of manufacturing and expiry dates for food and other perishable products. Consumer advocates argue that buyers should have access to this information before placing an order, enabling them to make informed purchasing decisions.

Questions were reportedly sent to several major quick commerce platforms seeking clarification on why such details are not consistently displayed on their applications. According to the campaign, no responses had been received at the time of publication.

The issue has sparked wider discussions on whether existing consumer protection norms are being adequately followed in the rapidly growing quick commerce industry.

Customer alleges underweight vegetable deliveries

Another issue highlighted involves alleged discrepancies between the weight displayed on quick commerce platforms and the actual weight of products delivered.

In one case from the Delhi-NCR region, a customer claimed that vegetables ordered through a quick commerce platform weighed less than the quantity mentioned on the application.

According to the customer, a carrot pack advertised as weighing between 200 and 300 grams measured 196 grams upon delivery. The customer then checked the remaining vegetable packs and claimed to have found similar differences.

The customer alleged that:

  • An onion pack listed as 900 grams to 1 kilogram weighed approximately 859 grams.
  • A tomato pack advertised as 500 grams weighed around 460 grams.
  • A cucumber pack listed between 500 and 600 grams weighed about 490 grams.

While each individual difference appeared relatively small, the customer questioned whether repeated discrepancies across multiple orders could affect consumers over time.

Refund offered after complaint

The customer said the issue was reported to the platform’s customer support team. During the complaint process, the customer allegedly experienced technical issues while uploading supporting photographs and eventually emailed the images to the support team.

Following discussions lasting around 25 minutes, the platform reportedly offered a refund of Rs 45. While accepting that the refund compensated for the immediate loss, the customer argued that the concern extended beyond a single order.

The customer questioned whether consumers who do not routinely weigh groceries would ever become aware of such discrepancies and called for stronger quality checks and greater transparency.

According to the platform’s support team, the matter would be escalated internally while the refund remained the available resolution.

Similar complaints emerge on social media

The campaign also cited previous complaints shared by users on social media regarding underweight deliveries from different quick commerce platforms.

One customer alleged that a grape packet advertised as 500 grams weighed approximately 395 grams, including its packaging. Another user claimed that vegetables delivered through another platform were lighter than the quantities listed online.

Among the claims shared online were:

  • A cauliflower listed between 400 and 600 grams allegedly weighing around 145 grams.
  • A 250-gram capsicum pack reportedly weighing approximately 170 grams.
  • A 1-kilogram potato order allegedly weighing about 965 grams.

While these posts remain individual consumer claims, they have contributed to wider conversations regarding consistency in product weight and quality control.

Regulators continue to push for greater transparency

Regulatory authorities have repeatedly emphasised the importance of transparency in online food retail.

Over the past two years, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have urged e-commerce and quick commerce businesses to clearly display essential consumer information, including manufacturing dates, expiry dates, accurate product descriptions and weights.

The FSSAI has also issued multiple notices to online food business operators over compliance-related issues in recent months.

Consumer advocates argue that stronger enforcement of existing regulations could improve trust in online grocery shopping while ensuring customers receive complete information before making purchases.

Growing sector faces growing expectations

India’s quick commerce industry has witnessed rapid expansion as consumers increasingly rely on app-based grocery deliveries for daily essentials. However, industry experts note that maintaining customer confidence will depend not only on delivery speed but also on transparency, product quality and accurate order fulfilment.

Although many reported weight differences involve only a few grams, consumer groups argue that repeated discrepancies across millions of orders could collectively have a larger impact. They believe clear product information, accurate weights and effective grievance redressal systems will be essential as the sector continues to grow.